schlosser



(No Model) P. G. SOHLOSSER, De0d.,

S. G. SGHLOSSER, Administrator. DEVICE FOR PROTECTING BANK OFFICIALS.

Patentg d gag 25,1897.

I HI 1 I 1 3 I I! Ill; 1 I

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

PETER G. SOHLOSSER, OF TIAGERSTONVN, MARYLAND; S. G. SCI-ILOSSER ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID PETER G. SCI-ILOSSER, DECEASED.

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING BANK OFFICIALS.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,238, dated May 25, 1897.

Application filed June 29,1896. Serial No. 597,505- 1I0 model-l To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER G. SoHLossER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hagerstown, in the county of \Vashington and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Protecting Bank Officials; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for protecting bank officials from highway robbers.

The invention consists of a protectingscreen of metal slidingly mounted in the front of the framework of the cashiers or tellers window, a stop for holding said screen normally in its open position, and means adapted to be operated by the foot for releasing said stop and permitting said screen to fall or be returned to its closed position.

More specifically the invention consists of a protecting-sheet of metal mounted to slide in upright guides in the front of the cashiers window, flanges or projections upon the lower ends of said sheet of metal, a spring-stop projecting outwardlyfrom the front of the framework and engaging the under side of said flanges or projections when the protectingplate is in its raised position, a cord passing over a pulley at the top of the framework for elevating said protecting-plate, and a treadle beneath the counter connected by cords attached to the rear ends of said springs and to the rear side of said treadle, whereby, upon the depression of the latter, said springs will be drawn back out of engagement with the under side of said protecting-plate and the latter will be permitted to fall into its closed position.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my device with the casingremoved. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line so of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of my device. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken. at a point above the operating-treadle.

Like reference-num erals indicate like parts in the different views.

The frame of my device is made up of the side bars 1 1 and a cross-bar 2, connecting said side bars at their upper ends.

3 is a counter located between the side bars 1 l, at the rear thereof, the same being of the usual form of construction of bank-counters and located at substantially the same elevation that the counters of ordinary construction are. On the front side of the bars 1 l, at a point slightly beneath the counter 3, is a cross-beam l, in which is secured a pair of parallel rods or bars 5 5, connected at their upper ends by the cross-arm 6 projecting through the cross-bar 2 and side bars 1. These rods or bars 5 are located directly in front of the side bars 1 on each side of the windowopening and are separated slightly from said side bars. Mounted to slide on the rods or bars 5 is a protecting sheath or plate 7, having rings 8 formed upon its side edges through which said rods project. Extending outwardly from the lower end of said plate are arms or projections 9 9, which are engaged, when said plate is in its raised position, by the upper ends of springs 10 10, secured at their lower ends to the front of the side bars 1 and formed with arms 11 thereon which project through openings 12 in the front of the casing.

In the cross-bar 2 is mounted a pulley 13, around which a cord 14:, attached to the upper end of the protecting-plate '7, is adapted to pass for elevating said plate from the inside of the bank. Beneath the counter 3 is a pivotally-mounted treadle 15, having plates 16 16 thereon, with pins or projections 17 extending through openings in the side of the frame. This treadle may be of any desired length for the purpose of permitting the operation thereof from any part of the bank. Connected to the rear side of the treadle are cords 18 18, which are attached, respectively, to the inner ends of the arms 11 on the springs 10, as clearly shown. Located above the grating of the window and just in front of the protecting plate or sheath when the latter is in its raised position is a casing 19, as clearly shown in a section of Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The operation of my device is as follows: The normal position of the protecting-plate 7 is raised with the cashiers or tellers window open. Should a robber or highwayman approach the cashier or teller andat the point of a revolver demand the surrender of the banks money, it would be merely necessary for the bank official to place his foot upon the rear side of the treadle 15, when, through the cords 18, the springs would be drawn inwardly, releasing the protecting-plate 7 and permitting the same to fall by gravity, closin g the opening through the cashiers window and protecting him from the pistols of the robbers. By reason of the fact that the treadle extends all around the inside of the bank the same may be operated by any one at a distance from the tellers window. It will also be seen that it is not necessary for the bank oflicial to move his hands to release the protecting-plate. It will be understood, of course, that my protecting-plate 7 will be slidingly mounted in the window-frame in any desired manner. For example, the side bars 1 may be formed with longitudinal grooves on their inner surfaces in which the sides of the plate fit, or the said plate may be mounted after the manner of an ordinary window-sash.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with the frame of a cashiers window of a gravity actuated protectingplate mounted to move in Vertical guides therein, a pair of flat springs secured at their lower ends to the front of said frame and having inturned upper ends projecting through openings therein, said inturned upper ends norm ally engaging the under side of said plate, atreadle mounted on the under side of the bank-counter, cords connecting said treadle and said springs, whereby, upon the depression of said treadle, the springs will be released and the plate will be permitted to fall, substantially as and for the purpose described,

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with the frame of a cashiers window, of a pair of vertieally-disposed rods or bars secured to the front of said frame on each side of the window, a pair of fiat springs secured at their lower ends to the front of said frame and having inturned upper ends projecting through openings therein, a protecting-plate having loops formed on its side edges through which said rods or bars project, extensions upon the lower side of said plate engaging the upper ends of said springs when said plate is in its raised position, a treadle pivotally mounted on the under side of the banlecounter, and cords connecting said treadle and the inturned ends of said springs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER G. SCIILOSSER.

\Vitnesses:

KATE P. BABcooK, HENRY KEYsER. 

